Coaching uncertainty not hindering recruiting

STOCKTON - The Pacific men's basketball program faces an uncertain future, but it looks much brighter after landing two area prep basketball stars in T.J. Wallace and Raymond Bowles.

Jagdip Dhillon

STOCKTON - The Pacific men's basketball program faces an uncertain future, but it looks much brighter after landing two area prep basketball stars in T.J. Wallace and Raymond Bowles.

The duo is starring for Modesto Christian High this season, but Wallace is from Stockton and played his first three seasons at McNair High, where he earned The Record's All-Area Player of the Year honors each of the past two seasons. Bowles was Modesto Christian's MVP last season averaging 18.6 points per game. He turned 17 in October.

Both signed binding letters of intent with Pacific last month, ending a long courtship between the pair and the Tigers. Pacific associate head coach Ron Verlin was the lead recruiter and was able to secure the commitments despite head coach Bob Thomason retiring after this season. Wallace, who just turned 18, said not knowing the next coach made him pause, but the other positives for Pacific helped make his decision.

"It's close to home and with the move to the (West Coast Conference), that puts us in a prestigious basketball conference, which was a big factor for me," Wallace said. "I have been to UOP games in the past and everybody there really welcomed me to the program."

Thomason and Verlin view the 6-foot-3 Wallace as a point guard and the 6-4 Bowles as a versatile guard/small forward. The coaches agree Wallace is the most talented prospect to come out of Stockton in the past 20-plus years, high praise considering this area has produced recent UC Davis standouts Joe Harden and Mark Payne from St. Mary's and former UC Santa Barbara star and Weston Ranch product James Nunnally.

"In 25 years, I don't think we've had a more talented guy come into this program," Thomason said. "He's the real deal, and (Verlin) did a great job recruiting him. I couldn't be more excited for Pacific basketball."

The signings fit into athletic director Ted Leland's blueprint for success, and he commended Verlin and fellow assistant coaches Adam Jacobsen and Calvin Byrd for delivering them in an uncertain environment.

"Signing local athletes is going to give us stability," Leland said. "We haven't had many successful athletic teams at Pacific in the past 40 years that didn't include some homegrown stars. It helps that these guys are particularly good."

Wallace and Bowles became friends last spring as teammates in a youth basketball tournament. They hope to compete for a state championship at Modesto Christian this season. Both had opportunities to sign with other schools, but Bowles said: "Pacific was the most interested in me, and that caught my attention."

Wallace has known Verlin for years, as he is a friend and a teammate of Verlin's son, Trent, on a youth basketball team. Leland said Verlin, who's in his 19th season as an assistant at Pacific, is a finalist to succeed Thomason. Leland will not comment on other candidates and has said he will not announce a decision before the end of this season.

Verlin believes Wallace and Bowles will become cornerstones for the program.

"We were recruiting them both and it kind of meshed," Verlin said. "T.J. is a special kid and it was just the right situation with that bond of him being here in town. Ray is also a great player with a very, very high upside."